News Brief
Pakistan Agreed To Ceasefire Due To Indian Military Action, Not Foreign Pressure: MEA
US President Donald Trump. (Scott Olson/GettyImages) (Representative Image)
India has formally dismissed former US President Donald Trump's claim that he played a mediating role in the recent ceasefire understanding between India and Pakistan, the Times of India reported.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reaffirmed India's longstanding policy that all matters concerning Jammu and Kashmir are strictly bilateral between India and Pakistan, excluding any third-party involvement.
"We have a long-standing national position that any issues pertaining to the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally. That stated policy has not changed. The outstanding matter is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian Territory by Pakistan," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
Responding to Trump's claim that he threatened to halt trade with both nations to facilitate a ceasefire, the MEA clarified that during the period from 7 May to 10 May, coinciding with Operation Sindoor, there were discussions between Indian and US leaders regarding the evolving military situation.
"The issue of trade did not come up in any of these discussions", the MEA said.
Regarding the specifics of the ceasefire, the MEA said that the agreement's date, time, and wording were established during a phone call between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) at 3.35 pm on 10 May.
This call was initiated following a request from the Pakistani High Commission received at 12.37 pm the same day.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier underscored India's position, stating that the country would not succumb to nuclear blackmail or tolerate cross-border terrorism under its guise.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal added, "India has a firm stance that it will not give in to nuclear blackmail or allow cross-border terrorism to be conducted invoking it. In conversations with various countries, we cautioned that their subscribing to such scenarios could hurt them in their own region".
